According to Rapoport, a trade request could be coming in the offseason. While the Steelers reportedly won’t be inclined to do it unless they can replace Roethlisberger with a franchise quarterback, it’s hard to keep a quarterback on a team if the quarterback doesn’t want to be there.

His concerns aren’t surprising. In recent years, the Steelers have tried to change the offense to diminish the passing game and return the focus to the running game.

The seeds for a potential conflict were planted not when the Steelers created an oil-and-water relationship between Roethlisberger and Haley but when the Steelers tried to force offensive coordinator Bruce Arians into retirement after the 2011 season. As we understand it, the Arians-Roethlisberger relationship had become a problem for the organization, with Arians believed to be more concerned about helping the quarterback rack up stats at the risk of helping the team win games.